Umana Okon Umana consults PDP, Promises War Against Poverty & Unemployment ‘There will be a level-playing field for all aspirants, and the party will support Umana if he wins the nomination’, says State Chairman It was a blend of splendour, dances and singing, pomp and pageantry when Mr Umana Okon Umana, the leading PDP governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State led a large crowd of party elders, leaders, stakeholders and members to formally inform the State Executive Committee of the PDP of his gubernatorial aspiration. All members of the party EXCO, led by the Chairman, Hon. Paul Ekpo and all the chapter chairmen were present to receive the former SSG. In his speech, Mr Umana recalled that he joined the party in 2003, and has since then been contributing diligently to growth the party. He also indicated that he had been living in the state since 1989, and ‘so I know Akwa Ibom and the people, and they too know me’. To buttress his deep affinity and knowledge of the party, the former SSG mentioned all the names of the party EXCO members and their respective LGAs to the admiration and applause of the audience. In terms of his plans as the next governor, Mr Umana said he will launched an aggressive war against poverty and unemployment by working with the federal government to establish the Ibaka Deep Sea Port. In addition he will industrialise the state, support agriculture, improve on infrastructure and provide scholarships to the best and brightest of our students. For him, resources and amenities would be equitably and evenly spread across the state. His words: ‘Thank God, Akwa Ibom is very compact, so we can do dualized roads from Uyo to every local government’. Umana spoke of his plans to make our airport a hub for the Gulf of Guinea and support our entrepreneurs to grow. ‘We have to grow our own Dangotes’, he said. In his speech, the State PDP Chairman, Mr Paul Ekpo thanked Umana and his campaign organisation, Ibom Development Network, for consulting with the party before the primaries begin. He acknowledged Umana’s support to the party over the years, saying that the party will certainly support the former SSG if he picks up the ticket at the November 29 primary. The huge applause that followed reflected the implicit and salient point in the statement: there is no zoning in the state. Indeed throughout the three-hour visit, the forbidden word was not mentioned by any of the speakers. It is the position of the national leadership of the party. Other speakers at the event were former SSG & federal minister, Obong Rita Akpan; Otuekong Sunny Jackson Udoh, elder statesman and PDP chieftain; Barr. Efiong Okwong, former Chairman of Oruefong Oruko LGA and former chief whip of the State house of Assembly, Chief Ukata. Obong Rita Akpan stated that the Umana campaign is only desirous of fair and free primary. She extolled the qualities of the aspirant and noted that Umana has been widely accepted by Akwa Ibom people. Otuekong Sunny Udoh spoke along the same line and noted that PDP could not afford to diminish its electoral chance by fielding an unpopular candidate. Barr. Okwong, a well-spoken lawyer and deputy director general of Ibom Development Network, stated that the Oron nation has decided to support Umana Umana for strategic reasons. Chief Ukata, renowned for his deep philosophical wisdom and scriptural understanding, asked the party to ensure that the winner of the November 29 governorship primary would not be denied of his victory. He recalled his sad experience during the 2007 election when his election as a National Assembly member was truncated. The Umana Umana camp is noted as the biggest assemblage of PDP leaders and elders and the single largest collection of delegates. Among the leaders who came with Uamna are: Otuekong Sunny Jackson (PDP Chieftain); Obong Rita Akpan (former SSG, AKSG; former Minister); Dr. Maurice Ebong (PDP Chieftain); Hon Dan Akpan, member of the House of Representatives; Obong Cyril Ekiko and Obong Rev. Effanga. Okon Inyang. Others are: Her Excellency, Obonganwan (Mrs) Imo Isemin (Wife of former Governor, Obong Akpan Isemin) and Deaconess (Mrs) Glory Udofia, former chairman of Uyo LGA.; Obong (Hon.) Etim E. Akpaudo, PDP chieftain; Engr. Kingsley Atanguma, PDP Chieftain; Obong Edem Akpainyang, retired Permanent secretary; Chief Effiong Essien, Special Adviser to Governor Clement Isong; Col. Edet Ekoi (rtd); Dr. Ime Okopid, former minister of environment; Rt. Hon. Sunny Udom (former member, House of Representative and former Chairman of Oruk Anam, LGA). He is the Director General of Ibom Development Network; Barr. Effiong Oquong (former Chairman, Urueoffong/Oruko LGA). He is the Deputy Director General of IDN; Elder Ntieyong Iyangmme (former PDP State Secretary). He is the Secretary General of IDN. Other PDP heavyweights who went with Mr Umana Umana were Mr. Ini Okopido; Abom Tony Esu (former member, House of Reps);Engr. Ita Awak (former Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State -Eket Senatorial District); Obong Victor Iyanam (former Commissioner & Attorney General, Akwa Ibom State-Eket Senatorial District); Elder Udoekop Udo Usoro (Political Elder, Itu- Uyo Senatorial District); Rt. Hon. Uwem Udoma (former Deputy Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly- Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District). Rt. Hon. Okon Uwah, former deputy Speaker of the State House ofl Assembly; Rt. Hon. Aniefiok Thompson (former Deputy Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly). Hon. Emmanuel Inwang (former member, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly - Eket Senatorial District);Hon. (Dr.) Ita Udosen (former member, Akwa Ibom House Assembly-Uyo Senatorial District); Pastor Usen Ebong (former Chairman, Itu LGA-Uyo Senatorial District) Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Clement Bassey (former commissioner, Akwa Ibom State; former member Akwa Ibom House of Assembly); Dr. Emem Wills (former Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State- Eket Senatorial District); Hon. Sammy Frank (former Special Adviser, Akwa Ibom State -Eket Senatorial District); Hon. (Engr.) Akanimo Edet (former member, Akwa Ibom House Assembly –Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District); Dr. Chris Ekong (former Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State); Mr. Nse Okponung (Party Elder-Eket Senatorial District); Barrister Edet Ikotidem (former Secretary, Old Itu); Mr. Cosmas Ibanga (former Chairman, Ikono LGA); Dr. David M. Umoessien (former Chairman, Oruk Anam LGA ); Dr. Nseabasi Akpan (former Commissioner, AKSG); Hon. (Dr.) Emaeyak Ukpong (former member, House of Reps; –Uyo Senatorial District); Hon. Alex Nyong (former Chairman, Mbo LGA-Eket Senatorial District); Otuekong Anietie Ekong (former PDP Secretary-Uyo Senatorial District) Hon. Barr. (Obong) Aniedi Ndem (former member, AKHA; Party Chieftain-Uyo Senatorial District) ; Hon. John Harry (former Commissioner, AKSG-Uyo Senatorial District); Mr. Inyang Uyah (former Special Assistant to the Governor and Obong Nse Akpaeno (Party Chieftain); Mr. Mfon Udofia; Obong Dan Akai (former Board Chairman-Uyo Senatorial District) ;Mr. Ekerendu Esit Ikot (Community Leader, Uyo Senatorial District); Mr. Edet Umo Otong (former Chairman, Ikono LGA); Mr. Eyo Akpan Udo (Party Elder, Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District); Obongawan Christy Udosen (Woman Leader, Uyo Senatorial District); Obongawan Gloria Anana (Woman Leader, Uyo Senatorial District); Lady Jane Essien (Woman Leader, Eket Senatorial District); Obongawan Lucy Akwa (PDP Chapter Women Leader, Eket); Bishop Dominic Obot (former member, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly); Elder Ichong Umoren (former Chapter Chairman- Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District); Elder Nkereuwem Akwa Owo (former Vice Chairman, Esit-Eket LGA). There were hundreds of youths led by the IDN Youth Leaders, Mr Tony Bassey and Daniel Bassey (Spinner).
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 08:32:55 +0000
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